Order

Rodentia

Key region

N/A

Range

Jamaica

Key Species Champion

Jamaica Conservation and Development Trust

How this species is doing

The Jamaican Hutia (Geocapromys brownii) is assessed as Endangered because its known extent of occurrence (EOO) is estimated to be 2,960 km², its range is severely fragmented, and its apparent disappearance from the Cockpit Country in recent decades suggests that there is a continuing decline in EOO, number of locations, and the extent of occurrence and the quality of the habitat. However, there is a need for standardised surveys to assess the status of this species.

Pressure

Ongoing human-induced habitat loss and degradation, as well as hunting continue to be major threats to this species. Population modelling showed the species to be vulnerable to over-hunting, and in some areas where hunting was reduced, such as in the subpopulations in Coco Ree and Worthy Park, there were signs of the population expanding. Predation by introduced dogs, cats and mongoose may pose threats to the species.

Responses

The species occurs in a number of protected areas, however little enforcement is in place and refuges do not prevent threats such as introduced mongoose. Although hutias have been brought into captivity at Hope Zoo, Kingston, there currently are no ongoing in situ conservation measures in place for the species. There is a clear need for standardised surveys across remaining areas where it is thought to occur.

Knowledge level

This hutia is now restricted to remote karstic areas, hills and mountainous regions, where there is an abundance of natural crevices and tunnels. It is almost exclusively nocturnal, emerging at night to forage over a wide area on exposed roots, bark, shoots, fruits, and foliage of a large variety of plant species. This species lives in social family groups of two to six individuals. Smaller families, pairs, and single individuals apparently inhabit smaller or more accessible holes. Little is known of reproduction in the wild. In captivity, this species bears one or two, rarely three, young at a time. Triplets have been recorded in only 3 of 47 parturitions. The gestation period is approximately 123 days with an average interbirth interval of 168 days (n = 27). The earliest primiparous birth recorded was at the age of one year. In captivity, breeding has occurred throughout the year. There are reports of damage caused to root crops and roots of tree species in the Blue and John Crow Mountains National Park, and in the Rio Grande Valley.